Chapter 27
Erica
Nothing had made her more nervous than meeting Archer’s aunt. Auditioning with huge Hollywood stars, interviewing with top directors, stepping up to receive her Oscar. Nothing compared to meeting the formidable woman sitting at the other end of the dining room. The dining table could seat twenty comfortably. Archer had told her it extended for fifty people to dine in the great hall. The cold and draughty room was vast. Chandeliers were high up, dwarfed by the space half the size of a football pitch. If his aunt were attempting intimidation, she’d got it spot on. Erica was seated opposite Archer a third of the way down the table. His aunt was at the head of the table, dressed for dinner in an evening gown and jewels that sparkled under the lights. Archer introduced her to Bailey in the grand foyer, who now stood stoic in the corner awaiting instructions from his mistress.
The clinking of her cutlery seemed to echo throughout the room. Each time she glanced at Archer, he smirked. It was fine for him as he knew all the etiquette required for a five-course dinner with the island’s matriarch. Erica was dining with old money, who had exacting standards, and she felt she didn’t meet them. As she speared a green bean, Erica idly wondered if Cynthia would talk at any stage during the meal. Since their introduction, which almost had Erica curtseying, nothing further had been said.
They were three courses into their evening, and Archer’s aunt hadn’t uttered a word. None of them had. A palate cleanser followed a salmon starter, and the main course was finished. Bailey cleared the plates away, and Erica made wide eyes at Archer in a feeble attempt to ask him why there was no conversation. Her family was middle of the road, easy-going but still chatted throughout meal time. Archer clearly couldn’t understand what she was attempting to say.
“Have you set a date yet, Archer?” Cynthia asked as Bailey took her plate away.
“We thought we’d have a short engagement, no need to wait when you know you have the one.”
Cynthia dropped her chin and stared at Archer, but Erica was staring at Cynthia, gauging her. The older woman reminded her of old Hollywood, saying far more than the words meant. Suspicion laced her words when she spoke again.
“Fools rush in, Archer,” she said.
“People only have a long engagement to save for a wedding. We don’t have the issue of waiting. We’ll speak to the vicar and set a date as soon as possible.”
“I imagine there will be some expense, won’t there? What about a dress, Erica? You’ll want to find the perfect gown to marry Archer Turner, won’t you?”
“I will begin at once to search for the dress, Miss Turner. I can have fittings on the mainland and then bring it back before the wedding.”
“Hmm,” Cynthia replied. “Flowers, Archer. I’d imagine you’ll get those from Narcissi Flower Farm. What about guests? How many are you going to troop through the grounds?”
Erica was watching Archer’s reaction to Cynthia’s questions. It was veiled in irritation that him getting married was an imposition, but Erica knew differently. Questions flooded Erica’s mind. Did Cynthia think she didn’t know about the deal? Did Cynthia think Erica was truly in love with Archer and the marriage was genuine?
“There are a lot of questions to answer, Aunt Cynthia,” Archer said but looked at Erica. “We can discuss who will and won’t be coming to the wedding. Erica and I will go through all the details, and then I can let you know the plan next week. When speaking to the vicar, are there any wedding dates we need to avoid?”
“I’m sure Bailey can tell you what’s happening in the wedding hall. I don’t get involved with that side of things.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to Bailey in the morning.”
Erica looked directly at Bailey in shock. They were talking about him like he wasn’t there. Bailey shook his head infinitesimally at Erica, and she turned her head to look at Archer. A staff member came in, placed a chocolate pudding in front of each of them, and left the room. She was so silent on her feet that Erica hadn’t noticed her arrival until the plate came into view.
Erica remained silent for the duration of the dessert course and then coffee with tiny chocolates. Archer’s aunt didn’t touch her chocolates, but Archer ate one after the other. Four square, delicately decorated chocolates were on a plate in front of her. She took one and ate it whole. The bitterness mixed with raspberry melted on her tongue. For a few seconds, she closed her eyes, savouring the delicious flavours. When she heard Archer chuckle, her eyes snapped open. She glared at him and then looked at Cynthia, wondering what she’d done.
“I think it’s time I retired for the evening,” Cynthia said.
Bailey was pulling away her chair like a shot as the older woman stood.
“Bailey, can you send hot cocoa to my room in an hour?”
“Of course, Miss Turner,” he said and moved out of the way.
“Erica, would you mind walking me out?” Cynthia asked.
Shocked at the request, Erica looked to Archer for confirmation. He dropped his napkin and stood.
“No, Archer, just Erica. She can come back for you when we’ve reached our destination,” Cynthia replied.
Erica placed her napkin on the table, regretting not following Archer’s lead and wolfing all four chocolates. Giving the treats a baleful look, she dragged herself away and headed to the end of the table where Cynthia was waiting. Erica was surprised when she hooked her arm through hers. With surprising strength, Erica was propelled forward towards the door. It opened as soon as they were near, and Erica spotted Bailey on the other side.
Cynthia cleared her throat when they were free of the dining room and walking across the grand foyer.
“I am fully aware of who you are, even if my nephew is not. I imagine with your wealth, you are not after his money.”
“How do you know who I am?”
“We make it our business to know who stays on the property. ”
“We?”
“Oh, don’t worry, Archer is blind and clueless to a two-bit actress like you. Let me be very clear. You have committed to being his wife. That ring on your finger has been in the family for hundreds of years. You will see this marriage through and never seek a divorce. I will have it added into my will that if you divorce Archer Turner, he and his siblings will lose their entire inheritance.”
“I don’t understand?”
“The Turners marry for life immaterial if it’s a love match or not.”
“I’m a divorcee,” Erica said.
“That information was clear on your report. I understand he had an affair and is having a child with another woman. If Archer strays, you will turn a blind eye.”
“The hell I will.”
“Think about Archer, his inheritance, and what he wants to do for his siblings. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree Miss Taylor or is it Mrs Potter?”
“Taylor is my maiden name. Potter was my married name.”
“And Turner will be your next and final name.”
“This is the 21 st century.”
“Then give the ring back to me now. I’ll break the news to Archer, and you can scurry off the island in the morning.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Glad to hear it, dear,” she said, patting Erica’s hand and walking up the staircase to the upper floor.
Erica felt tiny in the grand foyer, wondering what she’d got herself into. When she agreed to marry Archer, she thought it would be just them. But, to have the head of the Turner family dictating what she would put up in a marriage made it very real that she was making a lifelong commitment. Archer had told her she could walk away as soon as they were married. Did he know she was locked in for life if he was to secure his sibling’s future?
“Everything okay?” Archer asked, approaching her from across the hall.
He’d worn a navy suit with a white shirt and matching blue tie. In his hand was a napkin. When he stood in front of Erica at the bottom of the staircase, he opened the corners of the bundle of fabric to show her half a dozen chocolates.
“You moaned like you did last night when you ate your chocolate. I want a private audience as you eat these,” he said.
“Archer,” she said, holding back her tears.
She couldn’t handle his thoughtfulness, kindness, and observation of her enjoyment of the chocolates. The coldness coming from his aunt had been a bucket of ice water over her entire body.
He brought her into a tight hold, crushing her to him, carefully keeping the chocolates out of the way. “Whatever she said to you, ignore her. Please tell me you’re not having second thoughts.”
“She’s from another world. I feel like I’m in a tailspin.”
Archer brought her to arm’s length to look at her. Erica saw his concern etched all over his face and her throat burned from his aunt’s words. Her diva persona wanted to yell up the stairs that she had an academy award but stayed mute as the older woman dictated to her.
“What the fuck did she say?”
“Nothing, nothing Archer, it’s all good. I haven’t changed my mind. I’ll be at the altar in a white dress and be your wife. Nothing to worry about here. ”
“That’s three nothings in one speech. It sounds like to me you’re going to bolt as soon as I turn my back.”
“I have no reason to lie to you, Archer,” she said, patting the flat of her hand on his chest.
The heat from his shirt made her keep her hand on his pectoral. She swished her hand to the left and then groaned. He was too delicious for words. Archer put his hand on top of hers, curling his fingers around her hand, and stepped closer.
“Are you feeling me up, honey?” he said in a low voice that set her insides on fire.
“You’re insanely handsome. My hands have a mind of their own. I should get back to my cottage.”
“Am I invited? A nightcap perhaps,” he asked, inching nearer, dropping his head to touch his lips to hers.
Archer brushed his mouth slowly, softly, kissing her with tenderness. She melted against him as his kiss became firmer, his breathing heavier. She was getting carried away, floating with his dizzying kiss.
Breaking their connection, her chest heaving as she took a deep breath. “Archer,” she said.
“Erica,” he said softly, offering her the napkin of chocolates.
“You can come back only if you don’t run out on me again,” she said.
“Let’s make a pact. I won’t run out on you if you don’t run out on me.”
There wasn’t any way Erica would renege on her side of the bargain, not when his siblings depended on this match.
“It’s a deal. But can we drop the nightcap stuff? I feel like I’m living in another era. This whole place feels like it is stuck in time.”
“Why do you think we all moved away, honey? ”
That comment made her sad. The buildings were magnificent, and the art and decorative features were spectacular. She could imagine Turner Hall being a setting for a period drama or a movie set. The thought of the family moving away to get a hold of 21 st -century life was too much for her to handle.
“I’m sorry, Archer. I didn’t mean to make light of where you grew up.”
Archer smiled warmly and took her hand. She linked their fingers and squeezed, relishing the warmth of his hand.
“Let’s go back to your place. I feel at home there.”
Erica’s heart swelled at his words. Never did she think a marriage pact would have been this way. She felt more for this man than she had for her first husband. Could she handle marrying his aunt, too, because she thought there would be more than just her in the marriage of convenience?